Air carrier flight crew reported receiving a low altitude alert from ATC on a night visual approach to ISP. Crew became reoriented; climbed to a safe altitude; and landed without further issues.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported receiving a low altitude alert from ATC on a night visual approach to ISP. Crew became reoriented; climbed to a safe altitude; and landed without further issues.
Narrative
Cleared for approach into ISP. First Officer Pilot Flying. When cleared for approach on Runway 24; eight mile base to final the First Officer (FO) put 1;200 ft. into altitude selector and started descending. As the Captain monitoring; I was responding to a radio change to Tower and checked in. Tower cleared us to land. I looked out the window and noticed the aircraft looking low on profile. I asked the FO about his altitude and commented that he looked low. He told me he was descending to 1;200 ft. which was the final approach fix altitude. I looked closer and realized we were low. I started to make a change to the altitude selector to climb to a higher altitude when Tower informed us he had a low altitude alert on us. At this time; we were about 1;300 ft. MSL. We started our climb to around 1;800 ft. as we intercepted final approach. We were stable about four miles outside the final fix and continued the approach as the glide slope was intercepted. We followed the glide slope and landed without incident.The biggest threat was the FO being inexperienced. It was his first trip off IOE. He set the altitude selector without communicating his actions. When I asked him later about his altitude he stated he wasn't low and had the correct altitude selected. I informed him he looked low and that towers were listed at 821 ft. about five miles in front of us. I started to adjust our altitude higher when Tower informed us about the low altitude alert. I believe better communication between crew members and more dual pilot experience with the FO who seem to be more single-pilot minded.
Second reporter narrative
When cleared for a visual approach at ISP; I; Pilot Flying; new First Officer (FO); began a descent in the left base to 1;200 ft. MSL. During a wide turn for base to final; passing 1300 feet; ATC issued a Low Altitude Alert; simultaneous with the Captain remarking that he thought we were getting low. ATC indicated the alert was for a tower under the final approach. We corrected our altitude with a brief climb; joined final; and continued our approach to a landing. The approach was stable at 1000 ft. I was unfamiliar with the area in general; as well as the airport; in addition to the night conditions. As a new FO; I was paying more attention to energy management and configuring the aircraft than to the possibility that I had descended early.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.